Google may come to the rescue of iOS 6 Maps users — if Apple will let it [Updated]

With iOS 6, Apple severed its most visible ties with Google, dropping the YouTube app altogether and replacing the Maps app with one it developed from scratch.

Google released its own YouTube app for iOS last week, and it’s currently the most popular free app on the iTunes App Store. But those who’ve pulled the trigger on an iOS 6 upgrade are left with Apple’s Maps app, andthey’re not very happy about it – even though it has cool features like 3D buildings in big cities and turn-by-turn navigation (though only on the most recent Apple hardware).

The complaints range from businesses, institutions, roads and entire cities being in the wrong place, to a lack of detail about places of interest. There are problems with ground imagery and loading performance. And some of these are not just simple glitches – some are major errors.

Take, for example, the farm in Ireland that’s called Airfield. The Apple Maps app drops an airport designation on it. Appropriately, the Irish Minister of Justice thinks that’s a dangerous mistake.

I know on occasion mistakes can be made and I am surprised to discover that Airfield, which is in the centre of my constituency in Dundrum, has, in Apple’s new operating system iOS 6 maps application, been designated with the image of an aircraft. Airfield, a 35 acre estate with working farm, formal gardens and café is of course a famous and immensely popular, important local amenity. Clearly the designation is not only wrong but is dangerously misleading in that it could result in a pilot, unfamiliar with the area, in an emergency situation and without other available information, attempting a landing.

There are other map programs for iOS that you can use instead, of course, such as the excellent Waze navigation app. But the question arises: If Google could offer a replacement YouTube app, why isn’t there are a version of Google Maps for iOS?

Google reportedly has submitted a maps app for iOS 6 to Apple, and is awaiting approval. 9to5Mac cites a Guardian story, but also adds its own detail:

Separately, we heard Google has had a separate version of its iOS Maps app for quite a while that goes back years. Additionally, we learned an updated iOS 6 version has been submitted to Apple. It is awaiting approval, however, and that could take some time. It took a year for Apple to approve Google Voice, for instance, and Apple could technically claim “it duplicates a native service” even though there are quite a few mapping apps already in the App Store like Google Earth. Last month, it looked as if Apple were putting an update to Google Voice that featured Siri-like functionality through purgatory.

Apple’s in a tough position here. If it doesn’t approve the Google Maps app, it runs the risk of looking like a bully. Sure, it could deny the app based on developer rules forbidding software that duplicates basic iOS functions, but there are a slew of other map apps out there already.

If Apple does approve the Google Maps app, and the app runs circles around Apple’s own – as it’s likely to do, given the quality of the Android version – then Apple comes off looking lame against its fiercest competitor.

Apple responded to the criticism today by telling AllThingsD that, the more people use the app, the better it will get:

Apple urged patience. “Customers around the world are upgrading to iOS 6 with over 200 new features including Apple Maps, our first map service,” said spokeswoman Trudy Miller. “We are excited to offer this service with innovative new features like Flyover, turn-by-turn navigation, and Siri integration. We launched this new map service knowing it is a major initiative and that we are just getting started with it. Maps is a cloud-based solution and the more people use it, the better it will get. We appreciate all of the customer feedback and are working hard to make the customer experience even better.”

Although iOS 6 adoption is remarkably high for being out just a day – some estimates put it at above 15 percent – I’ve talked to many folks who say they’ll keep iOS 5 on their iPhones and iPads until Maps is usable, or Google delivers its own replacement. As the furor continues, the number of holdouts could become another embarrassment for Apple.

51 Responses

Tried Waze again at your behest. It made a navigation mistake where it told me to turn on a road that was mislabeled, then told me to turn left when my house was straight ahead, then correcting the street name as I continued to drive straight. It did this in both directions at the same spot, 12 hours apart, so I don’t think it’s a GPS issue.

When I tried Waze a year ago, it made similar mistakes on a 6 mile commute. I live in one of the top 30 cities in the US in terms of size. Obviously, Waze’s problems aren’t your responsibility, but every time I’ve used it it’s made serious mistakes in the first 15 minutes, that would have steered me way off course if I didn’t already know where I was going. TomTom has done that a handful of times in hundreds and hundreds of hours of driving. Wzae is just not a good alternative for me.

Yea but, I’m still marveling at the 3D of Houston. Pretty huh. Navigation? I use my Garmin of course, after planning or scheming with Maps. Ever tried to put an iPad on your windshield? Won’t work anyway!

Isn’t it an easier solution to simply point Safari over to maps.google.com? All the functionality of the old app just as easily.
I think people often forget how bad google maps was when it first came out. Mapping is tough, give Apple time and they will figure it out.

Yes, mapping is tough. Exactly why Apple shouldn’t have attempted it. Why should consumers like us be pawns to Apple’s need to get rid of a perfectly suitable Map app that has been refined over several years of work. I could understand if Apple was creating something completely new that wasn’t available before, but they’re not. It just doesn’t work.

In that case they should have released it as a beta and been a little more honest, or maybe held back for another year. It’s all very well Scott Forstall grinning smugly about a virtual shredder that gets rid of your unwanted store cards on passbook; as software VP he should get the basics right before he starts flaunting the embellishments which heighten “the apple experience”.

If I was out of contract or buying a handset outright I’d have to ask myself one simple question: do I really want to pay 530GBP for a phone which might work in a year or two, or do I want to go back to an operating system whose navigation software works now?

Apple is up against the chicken and egg, catch 22 scenario. Apple mapping program will get better if more people use it, but if nobody uses it it will never get better. Right now it looks terribly anemic. I will not be offering any of my blood for a transfusion. Ping, part deu?

Google maps is still available – you bring up maps.google.com and add the web app to your home screen. Since the tech pundits failed to make the iPhone 5 boring, they’re wildly gesticulating about the maps. You should thank Apple for forcing Google to slash maps API usage charges for devs (by 88%) and if/when Google does put out a dedicated maps app for﻿ iOS, Apple won’t be paying for it. I doubt Apple will ever make a map product as good as Google and probably not even as good as Bing.

Exactly – Google Maps via Safari on IOS 6 works just fine on both my iPhone and iPad. I just put the icon on my home page and moved the Apple Maps icon to page 2. The lack of traffic detail on Apple Maps is really a problem for me since I drive all over the city for work so I need (and prefer) the Google version. Unfortunately, this version of Google Maps wont do Street View – but if you need accuracy – it’s the best method for now.

True people get so hung up on apps they forget about this thing called the internet.

Still its the typical Apple way…put out a crappy product, missing a lot of key features, knowing that the fanboys and sheeple will buy it regardless. After 6 generations and billions in revenue it will be a nice product.

Have you ever used the Google Navigation feature. My android has this app. It is integrated with Google Maps. It is the best Navigation system around as it is always up to date with the latest maps. This App has been available for at least 4 years.

I’m finding the maps application disappointing as well, it would have been nice to see both systems run in parallel for a couple years. However, that said, most should know that Google would not allow IOS to have the turn by turn directions, so Apple did not have to much choice in what to do, but yes could have done it better.

For me, I can deal with it, I’ll wait and see how Apple handles the upgrades etc.

I was very disappionted last night when I upgraded. But looks like it got a little better today. Especially traffic updates and accidents. But still bad as I use public transportation and google was perfect. In 1 month if apple does nt come up with this feature or provide google maps app I ll go for android or jailbreak and downgrade to 5.1.1. Btw I dropped my plan to buy iPhone 5 becos of the maps.

Isn’t it an easier solution to simply point Safari over to maps.google.com? All the functionality of the old app just as easily.

That doesn’t help the fact that third party apps now use Apple maps instead of google maps. Two days ago, I could look for a nice restaurant in the timeout app and see it in-app on a map. I’d look around the map for the nearest tube station and I’d be on my way.

On iOS 6, this doesn’t work: the in-app map (now powered by apple instead of google) fails to show ANY points of interest around my restaurant. No tube stops, no bus stops, no nothing. Best workaround is to copy the address, switch to the google maps web app, paste the address and go from there.

The main principle behind iOS being more closed than android is that “Apple knows best”. You don’t get to choose from 3 different launchers, 4 manufacturer UIs (sense, touchwiz, motoblur) and 3 different keyboard replacements, AND YOU DON’T NEED TO. The defaults shipped by apple are well thought out, well supported and give the whole platform a consistent experience. There’s no need to try and mess with that to get a small gain in productivity (if you do want that, go ahead and get an android phone).

Apple maps, sadly, is nowhere near good enough (at least for people who live outside the US and/or rely on public transport), drags down the entire OS, and nobody but Apple can fix it.

My Galaxy Nexus asks which program to open for a hyperlink if there is more than one option- doesn’t apple give users the choice? I’m plain’ with you guys. Of course apple doesn’t giver users much choice.

Apple is going to not allow Google maps at some point in the future. Google should decide that time is now and pull the new ios6 version for submission. The press about this would be simply priceless. Good to see apple between a rock and a hard place!

Don’t worry, we’ll have rhe hole in the roof fixed and all the stains out of the carpet by the time you return home. If you enjoy the melty, smeary looks of 3D architecture as rendered by Apple Maps you’ll feel right at home. (Warned Dwight not to hold the geek gathering there but as usual he wouldn’t listen.)

Google decided long ago not to update the iOS maps App. Google forwarded the development of Maps for Android at a blistering pace, while making extra effort to insure their competition lagged far behind.

Fine. That’s how business works.

But to blame Apple for not trying to improve their own situation is hypocritical at best, and utterly intellectually dishonest at the worst. Anything other than taking matters into their own hands would have meant a slow death, bleeding out by a thousand cuts, and that’s not the Apple way.

In the past, the Apple Way has been to cook new products and features until they’re pretty much perfect before releasing them. On the rare occasions that they fail to do that, like this one, it is newsworthy.

That they have released a new tool that pales so obviously against a major competitor is also newsworthy, regardless of the reasons why they’re in this situation.

“We are excited to offer this service with innovative new features like Flyover, turn-by-turn navigation, and Siri integration.” –Apple spokeswoman Trudy Miller.

Er, how exactly is turn-by-turn navigation “innovative”? In-car GPS units have had that for what, a decade or more? And my Android phone has had it for over two years (which is when I got it…I don’t know when the feature was introduced).

Not everything Apple does for the first time is “innovative”. Good grief.

“…I’ve talked to many folks who say they’ll keep iOS 5 on their iPhones and iPads until Maps is usable, or Google delivers its own replacement.”

Count me among them. Since I use the map feature heavily on my iPhone, I upgraded on my iPad first to see what the new Apple Maps experience is like. They broke one of the handiest features on the device. Apple is “excited to offer this service”? I don’t care if they’re excited. I care that it works. I see no compelling reason to upgrade to iOS 6 on my iPhone until the maps are fixed or a Google app is approved.

Agreed. I’m not upgrading to iOS 6 until the maps are useful or until Google is allowed back in. It’s WAY too useful for me to be 4 blocks from some place on foot and be able to type it into GMaps and find it on the map. I’m not giving up that feature. There really isn’t any significant advantage in iOS6 for an iPhone 4 user anyway.

An app called Live Street View does a good job of google’s street view. It isn’t a fix all, but it at least restores that piece. I’m keeping ios5 for now. Will see how things shake out.I wonder of apps like Zillow and Realtor.com will be forced to use apple maps instead of whatever they were using?

My biggest issue with the new Apple maps is the lack of traffic status on minor roads. Google maps could even indicate if there was a traffic congestion on my neighborhood streets. Also, the background color doesn’t have enough contrast to highlight the streets or its name when you’re on the road. I totally agree that these new maps are not ready to be a replacement for Google maps, yet.

Actually the loss of Google Maps and the change of the connector is what keeps me from getting an iphone5, even though I’m due for an update. I love google maps — it’s a map and a phone book that I can just touch the business, and voom, I’m calling them.

And no, I’m not going to replace all my amps and speakers just so Apple can have a new connector.

Wow – this is the one thing keeping me from getting an iPhone 5. Horrible business decision. Apple should have just partnered with Google to include 3D and a Siri integration. I would have delivered a much better customer experience and Apple wouldn’t have to re-invent the wheel and turn is all into crash test dummies.

My daughter upgraded to iOS6, only to discover that the new Maps feature does not have public transportation routes on it; and she is dependent on public transit. It is supposed to be possible to reclaim the Google Maps mobile app from the browser site. But it doesn’t work for all phones, and hers is one it doesn’t work for. Now she is looking for some way to downgrade.

Apple, your arrogance has led you too way too far this time; and you are in danger of losing some of your most loyal users.

I lost interest in iphone a few years back. My Nexus with Jelly Bean is the bomb and I have maps that work. It’s more stable than my 3G iphone was. I can’t believe that Steve Jobs would have released their maps in such a bungled state but then again he thought people were holding the phone wrong. Get yourself a Nexus, I haven’t looked back.

Apple Maos is a deplorable bust in every way – anyone who says it is remotely acceptable comes off like some kind of apple-struck fanboy. I found the files and instructions to downgrade my iphone 4S from iCrap 6 to ios 5 and will do it soon. I won’t be buying an iPhone 5 or iPad until a mapping app equal or better to the “old” Google Maps is available.

So what’s the difference between Apple and Microsoft now? Seriously. Apple is now guilty of what iHeads always accused Microsoft of being: uninnovative and a releaser of poorly designed/tested programs. iPhone 5 is playing catch-up to the best Samsung and HTC have to offer, don’t have removable storage (pretty much absurd), and now Apple twice has released substandard features: Siri and the new Apple Maps.

All you iHeads out there can apologize for Apple’s behavior, but they aren’t the gold standard anymore. Apple is just another big tech company.